Z5vs BF
Sigma
BF (2025)
Starting from £1799 new
Best for Photographers who want to strip back every distraction
View BF
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Entry-Level Full-Frame & Dslr Switchers — Z5 (2020): The most affordable route into full-frame Z — dual card slots, IBIS, and a capable sensor at an accessible price.
Photographers Who Want To Strip Back Every Distraction — BF (2025): The most radical camera in years — no dials, no buttons, just a flat aluminium body and total creative minimalism.
Who should buy what
Z5 (2020)
- DSLR photographers switching to full-frame mirrorless for the first time
- Enthusiasts who want full-frame image quality on a tighter budget
- Photographers stepping up from APS-C who don't need fast burst or 4K
- Z5 II shoppers on a budget — the original Z5 is now excellent value used
BF (2025)
- Photographers who find camera menus and dials a distraction from the creative process
- L-mount system users who want the lightest, most minimal full-frame body available
- Design enthusiasts who value the object quality and philosophy as much as the output
- Sigma fp/fp L users ready for a more radical step toward minimal photography
Quick take: The z5 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the z5 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z5 (2020) | BF (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £999 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 24MP full-frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 24.0MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (with crop), 1080p/60p | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid AF — 273 phase-detect points, eye/subject detection | Phase-detect AF — face and eye detection |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | 5-axis IBIS — 7 stops |
| Burst Rate | 4.5fps | 9fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 590g (with battery) | 427g body only |
| Dimensions | 134 × 100.5 × 69.5mm | 127.0 × 75.0 × 45.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.8× magnification | EVF 0.75× 3.68M-dot |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.15" fully articulating touchscreen — primary interface |
| Mount | Nikon Z mount | L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Single UHS-II SD slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z5 | BF |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Sports | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history